Entering Third Age - Choose One Which Will You Be?

Geezer, old fart, old folk, or shaman, elder and tzaddik: which will you be? in many cultures the elderly are treated with respect and even reverence. In modern day America and other “modern societies” the aged are treated as casts offs. Put away in retirement/nursing homes. We’re no longer important, hip, the only “buzz” about senior citizens is their drain on the economy because of Social Security.

I don’t know about you but as I enter this “Third Age” and look around I see many vibrant, interesting older people still very much with it. These people have lived and experienced much and they have much to give in the way of guidance and wisdom not only to us approaching old age but also to younger generations.As I mentioned in a previous post a term that is now being used to describe this period from a person’s 50’s to death is now called “Third Age”.

Thanks to modern medicine and people taken better care of their health we have before a “bonus time”. A time when many of us still want to be active and involved. Retirement as we have known it, is becoming outmoded. For many reasons, most (80%) Boomers desire and expect to work for pay well into traditional retirement age. They also expect to contribute/volunteer their time and energy to address economic, social and political needs at home and abroad. (Lou Harris polls)

The size of this over-50 population will double in the next 35 years, as 77 million Baby Boomers enter the Third Age. Moreover, they intend to continue to rewrite social and cultural rules. So what do we do with this bonus time? What can each of us do as individuals to spend this time wisely? By now we all know how quickly time flies. The Third Age can bring exciting developmental changes and a greater changes and a greater understanding of human nature, of life, of what really matters - in other words, WISDOM. It can be a time characterized by an increase in individuality and authenticity, a freedom to be who you are. An increase in creativity and in spirituality, a search for purpose. an increase in civic engagement — in giving back, in helping society, in mentoring others. a new imperative to conserve and pass on their values, wisdom, and stories.

It’s really up to us to decide whether we want to be though of as a geezer or an elder, as an old fool whose time has passed or as a wise sage whose ideas, thoughts and life experiences offer great insight for younger generations. By the way tzaddik is the yiddish term for ‘righteous one”. I don’t know about you but I prefer that to old fart.